The Samaritans are encouraging people to turn to loved ones on Blue Monday with their *Brew* Monday initiative.
Returning to work following the break over December can understandably prove to be a challenge and prompt a bout of the January blues – with cold rainy weather and the feeling of a winter funk.
This culminates with what many call “most depressing day of the year”, known as Blue Monday, said to be the third Monday in January, despite the term coming from marketing campaign.
Now, Samaritans are looking to "stop this myth about Monday being 'blue'" and encouraging people to "start a conversation over a brew".
In 2024, it falls today - Monday, January 15.
The term Blue Monday originates from UK travel company Sky Travel, which first came up with the concept in a press release in 2005.
But now, mental health charities are hoping to break the cycle of a "depressing day" of the year - and are urging people to seek out help if they need it.
They want to change Blue Monday into Brew Monday - a day when people seek out friends or loved ones for a cup of tea or coffee and a catch-up, especially if they are feeling down.
People and companies are marking Brew Monday on Twitter. The National Trust tweeted: "Make this Monday the day you reach out to a friend or a loved one and start a conversation over a brew! We'll pop the kettles on."
The third Monday of January has become known as 'Blue Monday', but we're backing @samaritans' Brew Monday this year.
— National Trust (@nationaltrust) January 15, 2024
Make this Monday the day you reach out to a friend or a loved one and start a conversation over a brew!
We'll pop the kettles on.
Photo: Nadia Mackenzie pic.twitter.com/oNfJjV7fkz
Blue Monday? The good folk at @cubowork
— John Forkin MBE (@John_Forkin) January 15, 2024
in Derby have declared today as Brew Monday. Barista coffee, positive vibe & Mr Blue Sky on arrival ☕️ 🙏 pic.twitter.com/9Fvv4PGFAu
"Make sure you reach out to a friend or a loved one over a cup of tea today," the Royal Parks tweeted.
c2c Rail, meanwhile, has volunteers from the Samaritans at its stations - as does LNER.
We have people from the @samaritans at stations today for Brew Monday. If you see them please stop for a chat and a cuppa ☕️ pic.twitter.com/ymU8xQIozT
— c2c Rail (@c2c_Rail) January 15, 2024
The @samaritans say there’s no such thing as ‘Blue Monday’ - good & bad days aren’t for the calendar to decide.
— Stuart Thomas (@stuartthomas) January 15, 2024
To reinforce this they’re giving away cake & teabags at locations across the @LNER network - for #brewmonday.
Good to see them at Newark Northgate this morning 🫖 pic.twitter.com/JoS7qm8NOv
What is Brew Monday?
It is a day when the Samaritans are trying to change the narrative to help people who may be struggling with their mental health or times of low mood.
A spokesman said: "The third Monday in January is sometimes referred to as ‘the most difficult day of the year’ but this is a myth. At Samaritans we know there’s no such thing as ‘Blue Monday’ – we all have our good days and our bad days, and those aren’t for the calendar to decide.
"So we say it's time to stop this myth about Monday being 'blue' and instead start a conversation over a brew! âReach out and connect with family, friends, colleagues and loved ones.
"Any day can be a Brew Monday. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Monday morning or Saturday night, or if you’re drinking green tea, black coffee or orange juice. If you’re sharing a cuppa and listening, you’re doing it right."
How to get involved in Brew Monday
The Samaritans say it is as easy as picking up the phone to check in on your nearest and dearest.
But if you want to go bigger, you can organise a coffee morning to raise awareness and even funds, to go towards the Samaritans' efforts.
The Samaritans say: "You can host your own Brew Monday event, virtually or in person, however you want. You could organise a tea party and raise money for Samaritans, host an online Brew Monday at work, or even do something as simple as picking up the phone and checking in with someone you care about."
To find out about organising an official event, click here for more information from the charity on how to register it.
